Nigeria explains withdrawal of about 200 US troops
The Nigerian Armed Forces said that the planned withdrawal of about 200 US service members from the country does not mean an end to the security partnership between Nigeria and the United States. Nigerian Defence Headquarters spokesperson Major General Samaila Uba described the move as a routine adjustment linked to specific operational tasks.
Cooperation is to continue
According to Uba, Nigeria's and the United States' defense ties remain strong, long-standing and mutually beneficial. He noted that the US contingent was deployed for defined operational and counterterrorism missions, so its reduction reflects a change in the nature of military cooperation rather than its termination.
Key areas of interaction, including intelligence and information sharing, military training and technical assistance, remain in place. Uba stressed that primary responsibility for defending the country lies with Nigerian security forces, while international partnerships should strengthen their capabilities.
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Background of the deployment
As Premium Times Nigeria reports, The New York Times wrote last week about the planned withdrawal of the troops. In July, Commander of US Africa Command Dagvin Anderson said that a significant portion of US forces had already been withdrawn, while cooperation with Nigeria on intelligence sharing continues.
US military personnel began arriving in Nigeria in early February following an agreement between the governments of the two countries. At the time, the United States described the contingent as a small group, and by mid-February its strength had reached about 200 people, according to the publication. Initially, the Nigerian military said that the Americans would not take part in direct combat operations and would focus on training, logistical support, intelligence sharing and strategic dialogue.
Later, US military personnel took part in a combat operation in the country's northeast together with Nigerian soldiers. According to the publication, one of the leaders of the Islamic State in West Africa group and other terrorists were killed during it. The contingent's operations were likely focused mainly in Borno State, which has suffered from Boko Haram activities.
